How can we save our bees and other pollinators as their numbers continue to fall?
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has written to DEFRA to ensure there is a proper response to this major issue. Under the Tories there was a plan which was delayed because of the election it has now been released but questions remain.
The current plan outlined the ongoing decline in insect populations, setting out key measures to boost pollinators, improve monitoring efforts and tighten pesticide regulations.
With pollinators playing a critical role in food production and biodiversity, the government has acknowledged the urgent need for action.
A major focus will be expanding insect monitoring. The government will continue to support the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS), which gathers data on pollinator numbers using large-scale surveys.
There is also a push to ensure long-term funding for insect monitoring projects, moving away from short-term five-year research grants to secure reliable data over time.
The aim is to produce official national statistics on pollinator populations by 2027, with data feeding into biodiversity indicators by 2030.
On pesticide use, the government is committing to tighter controls while promoting safer alternatives.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be central to future agricultural policy, with new measures encouraging farmers to adopt less harmful pest control techniques. The forthcoming National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use will set out specific policies to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, including expanding research into alternative solutions such as biopesticides and precision spraying technology.
The government also intends to monitor pesticide effects on non-target species and is considering ways to streamline approval processes for innovative, lower-risk products.
To reverse habitat loss, farmers will be incentivised through environmental land management schemes to create and restore pollinator-friendly spaces.
There will also be stricter conditions on land use around Sites of Special Scientific Interest to prevent further decline in insect populations.
The government insists that tackling insect decline is a priority and is integrating pollinator protection into broader environmental policies.
However, concerns remain over whether these measures will be strong enough to counteract decades of habitat destruction and intensive pesticide use.
The success of these policies will depend on consistent monitoring, enforcement and long-term funding.
Committee chair Chi Onwurah MP said: “We’re pleased to see the government’s response to our predecessor committee’s report and its acknowledgement of key recommendations. However, today I’m writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, to ask for more clarity on the government’s work in this area.
“Pollinators undoubtedly play a crucial role in food production, and the committee is pleased that the government agreed to expand its Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. However, while the department acknowledged that there were gaps in its species abundance and risk indicators, it stopped short of agreeing to fix these gaps, citing a lack of data.
“If they’re not included in official metrics, statutory targets to halt and reverse species extinction could be met even if all the UK’s bees, wasps, ants and moths go extinct. This is very worrying.”
